InPresence 0101: Religion and Spirituality

InPresence host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). For many years he served as president of the non-profit Intuition Network, an organization dedicated to creating a world in which all people were supported and encouraged in developing inner intuitive abilities.

Here he refers to his personal experience within the Jewish religion -- noting that prayers, blessings, and rituals are common to virtually all religions. However, when these rituals become repetitious after many days, weeks, months, and years -- they begin to take on a mechanical quality. In Hebrew, the term for what is lost is "kavanah", which means a focus on the inner meaning of the words. Jeff then reflects on the central role of psi in authentic spirituality.

(Recorded on June 2, 2018)

[ravenbelote]

A saying I learned a long time ago...
"What's the difference between a religious person, and a spiritual person?
The religious person believes in a hell, whereas the spiritual person has already been there." :-D
So basically this is saying that religion consists of many beliefs, and spirituality consists of personal experiences.
I feel this is one good way to distinguish them. :-)

I like you talking off the cuff, and telling us about your journey.

[semichiganandy]

I couldn't agree more on most points. In fact, my wife (raised Lutheran) and I (raised Roman Catholic) have for years discussed how we were turned off by meaningless ritual. The one point that I'd like to add is that emotional involvement, although important, can lead to emotional manipulation. I've seen that in friends who have been caught up in fundamentalism. When the teachings appeal to the intellect (provided the intellect is able to understand), even greater appreciation can be achieved. But at the same time, ritual and teachings must be acceptable to that inner feeling of right and wrong. Most of us have a compass that turns us in the right direction. That inner voice that we always regret not listening to.

You're probably going to make me violate my previous commitment to avoid Facebook. What you've described is too intellectually tempting.

[queensistastarot]

I really appreciate how you break things down in lamest terms. Many with your expertise and knowledge be as the kids say, "All Extra." It means saying or doing more than what's needed to make a point. Now my background is in Christianity, you reminded me of Matthew 6:5 where Jesus talks about how ppl lost the spiritual part of the rituals. I see it today. I still like church because I like to learn and fellowship but I can't stand, "Church Folks." Church folks is the term we use to refer to people who go to church out of habit and traditions not to evolve. They are the mean ones we see on Sunday after church at a restaurant. You know what I'm saying. They talk the talk but when they think no one is watching are cruel and have no spirituality at all. Good rambling Mr. Mishlove. I ramble too. 😂

[Tzubazaah]

and thank you for reading from time to time xD

[johnpaul]

(This is a haiku poem written by Penny Harter, a poet living now in New Jersey, and it's included in "The Haiku Anthology/edited by Cor van den Heuvel."
I think it's a good one, a genuine "haiku instant."

" in the mirror/
the open door/
blows shut
behind me " )

[lyndaschroeder]

This particular talk is so great. Of course it is how I feel about it all and nice to have someone I respect agree. I am not a Facebook person...yet. We will see. Thank tomorrow.

[AnthrYrslf]

I love that word, partake, almost as much as the action. Thank you.

[Flanalb]

I'd like to revisit for a second your experiment in becoming aware of the thoughts of the whole world. It rather illustrates the problem with explicit, written or oral (as opposed to psychic) communication. In a way, it is analogous to the conundra involved in the scientific study of the subjective (and probably, the Self). The conscious, and the rational mind are too limited to create a natural structure (or network) that allows for free associations (connections/ self-organization) among the objects of its attention. That is why the "traditions" (like the Tao) repeatedly say that their words only point to the Truth. If indeed we all participate in the Great Consciousness of the Universe, and at the same time, we have individual awareness, each from our own perspective and experiences, it seems that there must be a natural disposition of connections between the elements of the greater whole. (All of this has been discussed at length from a thousand different points of view.)
It seems to me that the division of the thousand (prospective members of our community) will be better accomplished through some irrational, non-directive, self-organizing property of the group spirit. Of course, it remains to be seen whether such a process can or will take place. I am simply advocating for allowing the possible spiritual process to take place before planning a rationalistic division.
In other words, let's all see if we can make invisible connections through the creative power of our intentions.

[tewtravelers]

I swore off Facebook about eight years ago. I'm trying to decide if I'd like to open an account just for this reason.

[johnpaul]

It's almost an encapsulated version of "BE HERE NOW, " the famous/infamous collection of cosmic riddles written by Richard Alpert/ Baba Ram Dass, visible everywhere way, way back in the early Seventies.

[johnpaul]

There's an uncanny feeling about this poem. One imagines some kind of Earth Spirit informing the poet sharply, Here is where you are--not there.

[johnpaul]

To recall an earlier theme of Jeff's, maybe certain mistakes are universal. Maybe the Great God Whomever really botched things by creating Creation. Maybe there's a "crack in everything." Maybe the whole Universe is laughing behind our collective back ("Deteriorata, " National Lampoon). The joke's on us! I don't mind! To paraphrase the Chilean "antipoet" Nicanor Parra, who was over 100 when he died early this year, "I'm not laughing, I'm crying, " a line that brings tears to the reader's eyes. "I'm not crying, I'm laughing."

[vicproulx]

If mature Christianity is equivalent to a college education, most Christian teaching, most Christian sermons, are at a fifth grade level.

[johnpaul]

Freedom of inquiry is lost. Spiritual change and growth and evolution are lost.
The range of information/knowledge/wisdom on these sites, TA, NTA, IP,
is impressive.

[queensistastarot]

Oh when you do divide us put me preschool. I don't mind starting at ground 0